Cam chain driving drum for knitting machines



cm aJ Marh 19, 1957 N. FEINSTEIN ETAL CAM CHAIN DRIVING DRUM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1954 "LL lh. "llu muh.

lm HIIHII imb I'll FIG .2

INVENTORS LOUIS N. FEHNSTEIN Louns BOGGERO 7 ATTORNEY March 19, 1957 L. N. FEINSTEIN ET AL CAM CHAIN DRIVING DRUM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS LOUIS N. FEINSTEIN Lows Boeezao \M mw ATTORNEY CAM CHAIN DRIVENG DRUM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Louis N. Feinstein, Brooklyn, N. Y and Louis itoggero, North Bergen, N. J.

Application December 21, 1954, Serial No. 47 6,625

10 Claims. (Cl. 66-86) This invention relates to cam chain driving drums for knitting machines and, more particularly, toan improved drum construction whereby the guide bars of a knitting machine may be selectively divided into two groups, with one group being driven at a speed which is a multiple of the driving speed of the other group.

The guide bars of knitting machines are operated by cam or patter chains driven by a drum formed of driving sections, each engaged with one of the pattern chains. These pattern chains comprise interchangeable links of different height arranged in a predetermined order and sequence so as to operate the associated guide bars in a predetermined manner to form a preset pattern in the knitted fabric.

in forming such patterns, the sequence of movement of each guide bar is coordinated with the sequences of movement or operation of the other guide bars. Frequently, one or more guide bars are required to complete a repetitive sequence at a rate which is a multiple of the rate at which one or more other guide bars complete their associated repetitive sequence. With all the pattern chains being driven at the same rate, as is the case with present knitting apparatus, the cam sequence of the chains operating the guide bars whose sequence is repeated at the slower rate must be laid out over a length of chain which is a multiple of the length of chain required for the cam sequence operating the guide bar or bars having the faster sequence repetition.

This requires some chains to be twice or more the length of other chains, which results in an unwieldly chain arrangement as well as requiring a larger supply of chain links of the different heights. Additionally, any change in the relative operating rates of the different guide bars requires re-assemhling of the cam links in a new order or sequence. This is a time consuming operation involving additional labor expense.

in accordance with the present invention, a novel drum construction is provided whereby excessive chain lengths are avoided and speed changes of individual chains can be made readily, quickly, and easily. More specifically, the drum driving shaft carries a first gear fixed thereto and a second gear, or a pair of second gears, rotatable thereon. Adjacent the driving shaft isa counter shaft having a gear fixed thereon and each meshing with a different one of the gears on the driving shaft. The arrangement is such that one, or a pair, of the gears on the driving shaft rotates at a speed which is a multiple of that of the other gears thereon. For example, the gearing may be so selected that the gear or gears rotatable on the driving shaft operates at twice the speed of the driving shaft and the gear fixed thereon, or vice versa.

The several chain driving drum sections are loosely mounted on the driving shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the latter. These sections are formed to receive pins or bolts by means of which they can be readily connected one to the other and to any of the gears on the driving shaft, or to a section fixed to the driving shaft.

Thus any section or group of sections can be rotated at twice the speed of the remaining section or sections.

For a better understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

the drawings:

Fig. l is an end elevation view of a single bar knitting machine incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the greater part of such machine;

Fig. 3 is a part plan, part sectional view or" one form of the invention drum construction;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of the drum construction; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 3.

The main portions of the knitting machine used for too purposes of illustrating the invention are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. There is one straight bank of latch needles to the main frame 53 of the machine in such a position that the needles 5% in the bank slide up and down, but leave sufficient space to permit the fabric to cast off. The needle bar 511 is raised and lowered in the usual manner by the needle cams 54-54 which may either be single or double action cams. Cams Sid act through cam arms 55 which are pivoted at $5 and reciprocate lifter rods 57 on which the needle bar 51 is mounted. The needle cams 54 are on the main shaft 53.

While only two guide bars, 59, so are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this is by way of example only, as the machine can readily be adapted to use any number of guide bars. The guide bars control the yarn for knitting the fabric, and are operated by pattern chains (not shown) driven by the drum construction generally illustrated at 20.

The yarns 61 are fed to the needles through the guides 62 of the guide bar 59, while the yarns 6d are fed to the needles through the guides 63 of the guide bar 653. The yarns 61 and 64 pass between the needles as the guide bars are rocked. back and forth. While the guides s2 and 63 .are operated independently, they are hung on a cradle 45 and passed back and forth between the needles in parallel relationship as a single unit. The guide bars 59 and are suspended from cradle by two or more hangers 65 through whose lower end a horizontal pin 66, located at the top of the guide bar, slides freely, thus enabling the guide bars to slide longitudinally through the cradle. The suspension is made firrn by the brackets 67 which are fastened on the ends of the guide bar and are slideably suspended on the cradle by the rods 68. The cradle 45 is rocked by a slotted arm 69, on one end of the cradle, and a vertical connection rod itl which is adjustably fastened to the outer end of the slotted arm. The lower end or" connecting rod it? is forked and straddles the main shaft Mounted on the connecting rod 70 is a roller 71 lying in a grooved cam 72 on the main shaft 58. As the cam '72 revolves, the connecting rod 7i is raised and lowered and the cradle 45 is rocked back and forth, the movement being so timed with relation to the needle bar 51 that the latter descends just after the individual thread guides pass between the needles to the same side offthe. machine as the needle bar The yarns 61 are fed. to guide bar 59 from warp beam 73 which is mounted on a frame "i l. Yarns dd are fed to guide bar eh from warp beam 75 which is mounted on the frame 74.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the drum construction 20 includes a drum input or driving shaft 15 adjacent which is a parallel counter shaft 3t A hub 16 securedto shaft 15 has fixed thereto a driving gear 21 meshing with a smaller pinion 31 secured to shaft 30. Also secured to shaft 39 are driving gears 32 and 33 coequal in diameter and number of teeth. Gears 32, 33 mesh respectively with gears 22, 23 freely rotatable on shaft 15. The gear ratios are so selected, in the illustrative example, that gears 22, 23 rotate at twice the speed of gear 21 and shaft 15. For example, gear 21 may have 80 teeth, pinion 31 may have 40 teeth, and gears 32, 33, 22, 23 may have 50 teeth.

The chain driving sections 25 are rotatably mounted on shaft through the medium of ball bearing assemblies 26. A special section 27 is secured to shaft is be tween gears 22 and 23, and the sections are arranged in two groups, one on each side of section 26.

Each section is formed with a series of openings therethrough arranged to receive connecting bolts, these holes being equally spaced along the circumference of a circle. Alternate holes 23 are threaded, and intermediate holes 29 are countersunk at each end to receive the heads screws 35. These screws are inserted through a hole 29 in one section and threaded into a hole 28 of an adjacent section. Gears Z2 and 23 are formed with holes 36 alignable with the threaded holes 28 in sections 25, and section 27 is formed with threaded holes 37 alignable with countersunk holes 2? in sections 25.

By the described arrangement, sections 25 may be selectively driven by either gear 22 or 23, or by section 27. in the illustrated example, the three left hand sections 2% are secured to rotate with gear 23, and the extreme right hand section 25 is secured to rotate with gear 22. These four sections thus are rotated twice as fast as the remaining three sections which are secured to be rotated by shaft 15 through section 27. it Will be noted that the latter is adjustable along shaft 15 to ac coinodate different groupings of sections 25.

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative drum construction in which corresponding parts have been given the same reference character primed. in this construction, sections 25 are the same as in Fig. 3 and are mounted on ball bearings 26. However, special section 27 is no longer fixed to shaft 1:: but is rotatable thereon by means of ball bearings 17.

Hub 16 serves to position pinion 21 fixed to shaft 15 and driving gear 31 fixed to countershaft 30'. Gear 32' fixed to countershaft 3% drives a co-equal gear 22' rotatable on shaft 15. The gear ratio is such, in the arrangement shown, that gear 22' is rotated half as fast as shaft 15. For example, pinion 21' may have 40 teeth, gear 31' may have 80 teeth, and gears 32, 22' may have 60 teeth.

Gears 33 and 23 are omitted, with gear 23 being re- I placed by a part section 41' secured to a hub 42 fixed to shaft 15. in this arrangement, the several sections may be selectively connected to be driven either by gear 22 or part section 41'. As shown, the two leftmost sections are driven by section 41 and the remaining sections by gear 22.

The relative speed of any section can be readily changed by withdrawing studs and replacing the studs in such a manner as to connect the selected section to another section or gear rotating at the new speed.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knitting machine of the type having guide bars operated by pattern chains, a pattern chain driving drum construction comprising, in combination, a drive shaft; 21 first element fixed against rotation on said drive shaft; a second element rotatably mounted on said drive shaft; means interconnecting said drive shaft and second element to drive the latter at a speed differing from the drive shaft speed; pattern chain drive sections rotatable on said drive shaft; and disengageable connector means selectively operable to connect said sections for rotation by either said first element or said second element.

2. In a knitting machine of the type having guide bars operated by pattern chains, a pattern chain driving drum construction comprising, in combination, a drive shaft; a first element fixed against rotation on said drive shaft; a second element rotatably mounted on said drive shaft; reduction gearing interconnecting said drive shaft and second element to drive the latter at a speed differing from the drive shaft speed; pattern chain drive sections rotatable on said drive shaft; and disengageable connector means selectively operable to connect said sections for rotation by either said first element or said sec- 0nd element.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 in which said sections and said elements are correspondingly apertured, alternate apertures in each section being threaded; and said connector means comprise studs insertable through an aperture in a section or element and threa-dedly engageable in an aperture in a second section or element.

4. in a knitting machine of the type having guide bars operated by pattern chains, a pattern chain driving drum construction comprising, in combination, a drive shaft; a counter shaft; gearing interconnecting said shafts; first gear means fixed on said counter shaft; second gear means rotatable on said drive shaft and driven by said first gear means at a speed differing from the drive shaft speed; an element fixed to said drive shaft; pattern chain drive sections rotatable on said drive shaft; and disengageable connector means selectively operable to c0nnect said sections for rotation either by said second gear means or by said element.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said sections, said second gear means, and said element are correspondingly apertured, alternate apertures in each section being threaded; and said connector means comprise screws insertable through an aperture in a section,

said second gear means, or said element and threadedly engageable in an aperture in a second section, said second gear means, or said element.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said gearing includes a gear on said drive shaft and a smaller pinion on said counter shaft; and said first and second gear means have a 1:1 ratio.

7. A construction as claimed in claim 6 in which each of said first and second gear means includes a pair of axially spaced gears.

8. A construction as claimed in claim 7 in which said element is disposed between the gears of said second gear means.

9. A construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said gearing includes a pinion on said drive shaft and a larger gear on said counter shaft; and said first and second gear means have a 1:1 ratio.

10. A construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said element is adjustable axially of said drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,026 Feinstein Oct. 8, 1946 

